A tip-off to the National Security Hotline was responsible for sparking an anti-terrorism raid that led to Friday's arrest of a 17-year-old Melbourne boy who is suspected of planning an "imminent" bombing attack.
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The teenager has been charged with terrorism offences after his family's home in the eastern suburb of Greenvale was raided by police on Friday afternoon.
Police have refused to disclose the intended target or date of the attack, saying only that "some Victorians are going to be alive" because of the operation.
The Melbourne Joint Counter Terrorism Team uncovered three suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the property, which were later destroyed through controlled detonations by the bomb squad.
Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill said the investigation, known as Operation Amberd, had stopped an "imminent threat" to the community of Victoria.
"This matter has been subject to an intense investigation, especially over the last nine days. On Thursday afternoon an agreement was reached that we would resolve this matter with direct action."
Police said the 17-year-old was surrounded and arrested as he was leaving the Greenvale property in a car with an unidentified woman.
After cordoning off the home, three other people in the house were evacuated and the bomb response unit called in.
Three devices were removed from the premises and destroyed.
"We want to ensure the community of Victoria that we have contained the situation. There is no longer an imminent threat to the community of Victoria," Acting Deputy Commissioner Hill said.
Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Mike Phenlan said the arrest was a "sobering reminder" to all parents of the importance of being more engaged with their children.
"It is deeply troubling to police that young people in our community are becoming so disaffected and alienated that they would consider engaging in acts such as this, " Mr Phelan told reporters on Saturday.
Police described the boy's family as "caring and loving", saying the boy's parents were distraught at their son's arrest.
In response to the raids, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia still faced a very serious terrorism threat.
"The tragic truth is that there are people among us - not very many, it's true - but there are some people among us who would do us harm," he told reporters in Darwin.
"And it's vital that our police and security agencies be given all the support and all the resources they need to do their job properly."
But he urged Australians to keep going about their daily business and living their lives normally.
"The great thing about Australia is that we are a free, open and fair society. We must continue to be a free, open and fair society," he said.
- with Adam Gartrell and Deborah Gough